Health and Safety, Plant & Machinerys
Tractor-Mounted Forestry Winch - Safe Operation and Maintenance
Assessment type
Training only (attendance)
Integrated training and assessment (ITA)
Minimum duration
1 Day
Course delivery
Verbal questioning
Observation
Practical demonstrations
Description
The Tractor-Mounted Forestry Winch - Safe Operation and Maintenance course provides learners with the knowledge and practical skills required to safely operate and maintain tractor-mounted forestry winches in accordance with current forestry best practice and relevant health and safety legislation.
Combining classroom-based learning with extensive practical training, delegates will develop the knowledge, practical skills and confidence required to carry out pre-use inspections, safely attach and operate tractor-mounted forestry winches, recover and extract timber, undertake routine operator maintenance and maintain safe working practices whilst minimising risks to themselves, others and the surrounding environment.
Training is delivered in line with the UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Course Standard, ensuring a structured, competence-based approach that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application in realistic forestry working conditions.
Who Should Attend?
- Forestry and woodland workers.
- Forestry contractors.
- Estate and woodland managers.
- Agricultural workers involved in timber extraction.
- Farmers undertaking woodland management.
- Individuals with little or no previous experience operating tractor-mounted forestry winches.
- Existing operators wishing to refresh or formalise their skills.
What You Will Learn
- Relevant health and safety legislation and operator responsibilities.
- Hazard identification and safe systems of work.
- Components and operating principles of tractor-mounted forestry winches.
- Selection and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Pre-use inspections and defect reporting.
- Safe attachment and detachment of the forestry winch.
- PTO, hydraulic system and driveline safety.
- Safe starting, operation and shutdown procedures.
- Principles of timber extraction and directional winching.
- Safe use of winch cables, chokers, pulleys and associated equipment.
- Maintaining machine stability and safe anchor points.
- Communication and exclusion zones during winching operations.
- Working safely on slopes, uneven ground and within woodland environments.
- Routine operator maintenance and daily checks.
- Environmental considerations, including protection of soils, watercourses and standing trees.
Practical Training
- Carrying out pre-use inspections and safety checks.
- Safely attaching and preparing the forestry winch for operation.
- Inspecting winch cables, chokers, guards and safety devices.
- Familiarisation with tractor and winch controls.
- Attaching timber using approved extraction techniques.
- Carrying out controlled timber extraction using the forestry winch.
- Applying safe communication and exclusion zone procedures.
- Working safely on slopes and uneven woodland terrain.
- Carrying out routine operator maintenance and cleaning.
- Safe shutdown, transportation and storage procedures.
Assessment
Delegates are assessed throughout the course through practical observation and instructor questioning to confirm their knowledge, understanding and practical competence. Assessment is conducted against the learning outcomes and assessment criteria specified within the relevant UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Course Standard.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the course, delegates will receive a UK Rural Skills (UKRS) Accredited Certificate, demonstrating that they have successfully achieved the learning outcomes and assessment criteria specified within the relevant UKRS Course Standard.
Entry Requirements
Delegates should be capable of safely operating an agricultural tractor or have previously completed suitable tractor operator training. They should be physically capable of safely operating a tractor-mounted forestry winch and possess a sufficient understanding of spoken and written English to fully participate in training and assessment.
Course Duration
Course duration will vary depending on delegates' previous experience, the number of delegates attending, the type of tractor, forestry winch and timber extraction operations being undertaken and the level of competence to be achieved. Training is tailored to individual requirements and may be delivered for novice operators, experienced operators or as refresher training.
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